Thank you for your recent letter regarding policies of the rirefighters against cuts party.

We are a party whose main concern at the moment is, as you may be aware, the fate of the fire service. We are also concerned with the public services in general and will fight against cuts in all public services.
We are however very aware that there are other important issues that effect us all which need addressing. I have therefore listed your questions below in order that I can answer them and hopefully reassure you and your fellow members as to our policies.

DUNGENESS - Do you support new build at Dungeness power station even though the industry has not solved its waste problems?
I support no future build at Dungeness or any other site designated for use as nuclear power station. It is my belief that there are many renewable sources of energy which are already in existence and some yet to be discovered to fulfil our energy needs. These coupled with joined up policies of conservation of the energy we already use would in my opinion, negate the need for nuclear power.

RENEWABLE ENERGY
Do you welcome wind farms in the district? Should the government be urged to do more to develop all forms of renewable energy-e.g. subsidising national grid connections?
I welcome whole-heartedly wind farms along with other forms of renewable energy.
Having spent a fair bit of time in Europe and seeing the Wind farms springing up all over I can say I am a fan! They are the most graceful form of renewable energy I have come across and possibly the least harmful. I wish people could get over their fears of the unknown and embrace this technology for all our benefits. And yes I certainly support government subsidies for connection to the national grid, and believe they should do all they can to encourage use of renewable energies not just in this country but all over the world.

GM FOODS Are you aware that over the next year or so the government will decide whether to allow GM crops to be commercially grown across the UK? Do you have any concerns?
I have to admit that I'm not fully aware of all the issues regarding GM crops; I would welcome some information on the subject if you have some, I will say that I am concerned that I am aware that once the decision is made to go ahead there is no turning back and for that reason I would urge a certain amount of caution.

EMEGENCY PLANS - The government has made local authorities near nuclear power stations responsible for drawing up plans to protect the public in a nuclear emergency Do you know what Shepway's local emergency plan is, and do you think that potassium iodate tablets should be available to everyone in the district?
From what I know of local emergency plans they are a long way from adequate! I am aware that a serious incident would seriously stretch the fire service at this moment, and the future is even bleaker if section 19 of the fire services act is repealed leaving the way clear for wholesale cuts in the fire service, and of course, diminishing the publics protection in emergency situations. I am sure other emergency services are as stretched as the fire service. I am not aware of what Shepways emergency plan is but I expect it would involve running around like headless chickens for a while! To answer the final point of your question regarding the potassium iodate tablets, I am guessing that they are of assistance to cases of irradiation on humans. If this is the case then yes I believe they should be freely available, if safe, to all people in the district.

CYCLING Do you support safe sensible cycle routes to schools and town centres? Would you make this a budget priority?
I do certainly support safe sensible cycle routes all around the district and certainly on the major routes to schools and the town centre as you suggest. I would go further and say that I don't consider the white lines painted in Wear Bay Road a safe cycle route! A readjustment of the traffic flow in a number of roads would enable us to achieve real safe routes for cycles. And yes this would be near the top of my spending priority.

OPERATION STACK - Do you have any alternative solutions to the underlying problems caused by HGV's on our motorways?
Buy local produce! I understand this is a simplistic approach to the problem but sometimes the Simplest solutions are the best. Investment in our railways is a must too, with agreement to stop trying to make a profit and think more about the environmental consequences of the current policies.

RECYCLING - Is Shepway doing enough?
I feel that Shepway has made a good start and their recent compost it campaign was well meant but I can't help feeling their heart isn't really in it. I am concerned with the lack of plastics collection, sadly for commercial reasons. I am also disappointed with the doorstep collections in as much as they don't separate (or more importantly encourage householders to seperate) all recyclable goods. There is far more which can be done and education is the key.

I do hope this is of assistance and that it puts your mind at rest regarding many of the issues. I
should remind you that we are a new party and as such many of the questions you have posed have yet to be discussed at national level, some of these answers therefore are my own personal feelings. But what I can assure you is that we are, as a party, very much aware of environmental issues.
Yours sincerely
P McLaren.